Page 86 of A Kingdom of Shadows

A glimmer of shock and yearning passes his eyes. I can just about see the silhouette of me in them. He knows. He understands exactly what I am implying.

"Are you sure?" His voice is rugged and coated in dark lust.

I nod.

I've never been more certain in my life.

"It'll hurt," he says, full of thick promise.

"I don't care."

"But you're not—"

"I' will ask Golrai for some Rucca leaves in my tea. I should be fine," I pant out, knowing what he meant to ask. Even if mortals can't bear a shifters child without perishing, I still want to be protected from unwanted pregnancies. Rucca leaves in any tea are strong enough to stop that before or after.

Darius looks torn for a minute. I'm concerned he will say no, leaving me mortified.

Instead, he drops his head by the side of mine and whispers, "Thank you... for letting me be your first."

As he grabs one of my breasts and begins pinching, squeezing, and producing pleasure sparks to shoot down my legs, it leaves me breathless, yearning, and unable to respond. My hands scramble to grasp something, and I end up sinking my fingernails into his back. He grunts but doesn't let go of me as he starts kissing my neck. My spine arches and my eyes flutter closed as I gasp and bite my lower lip in response to the frenzied strokes on my breast.

More, more, more—

A yelp claws up my throat when his hand moves between my legs and presses a thumb against my middle, lighting up my body with the pressure he's inflicting.

My thighs are already wet as he stares up at me with a seductive smile, reminding me of every time he's used his charms, trickery, and attractiveness to entice anyone.

If I had it my way, I'd have made a comment, anything to keep my sanity in check, but he doesn't let me, he knows me too much by now as he slides in two fingers, and I cry out. I immediately cover my mouth, but he yanks it away, his gaze hardening with such lustful beauty.

Shivers wrack my body as I groan while he pumps in and out of me. Slow, teasing, and tormenting.

I don't realize his lips are grazing my ear until he says, "Hips up, Goldie."

I do as he says and feel him shift, taking his pants off.

Propping my elbows up on the mattress, I stare with half-closed eyes at the V-shaped carving on his lower half and at the largeness of his frame.

Arousal pools between my legs that I can hardly swallow.

He climbs on top of me again and looks at me as if to make sure this is what I really want.

I do.

I'm doused with anticipation, excitement, and nerves as I nod.

Just one push, and he'll be inside me.

Darius will be my first.

And I wouldn't want it any other way.

He positions himself. His arms bracket me, and when I feel the tip at my entrance, I wince as he finally slides in.

A sting, a burn, an intense stretch that's so foreign but right at once fills me. My hands dig into his shoulder blades, worried I will jerk back as he goes in further, but a low groan emits from him before his mouth finds mine.

As he pulls out and thrusts back into me, I tip my head back with a moan dipped in pain and pleasure.

He rocks slowly, my skin trickling in sweat, emulsifying with his as both his hands grasp mine, sliding them up to the sides of my head.

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